In 2008 I bought my first new Skoda Fabia estate. I was stoked! It was brilliant. I loved the more individual design, it's upright looks, it's solidity etc etc. I know I was not alone either, as the posts on here were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about it. But...there were still many dissenting voices concerning the design, (too upright/high, too narrow) the quality of or lack of paint on the wheel hubs and drums. The quality of the door handles inside (plastic as opposed to chromed metal on the Mk1) etc etc. The lack of plastic shields under the car to protect it and reduce wind drag. So it came as no surprise to me that Skoda listened and produce us the Mk3 that addresses those very things. The car is of course, lower overall, wider in stance, more rigid yet lighter, has well painted hubs, metal door handles (chromed) inside the car and has plastic under shields to protect it and reduce wind drag etc etc. The interior design has reached new heights too with everything much more conveniently placed with perfect clarity for the driver. We have more power, more economy, a range of cars that have lower road tax (yes I know it's all just gone up but you know what I mean). I'm assuming I'm not the only one who has noticed all this?

That is what is called progress driven by competition, or evolution, all the cars based on this improved platform have benefited from this evolution - though I would not hold your breathe over any ideas that the paint used on hubs etc has moved forward - it is only there to keep them looking new prior to being sold?

As to a All New 3rd Generation being lighter than an Original Fabia well i would hope so, as to the on average 60kg lighter than the MK2 well that is averages for you.  Leave some stuff off, save weight and lightness shoud use less energy and fuel to move something along, sadly fitting a smaller battery and having stop start and not good regeneration is kidology, as is no spare wheel as standard type thing.

So there was a Fabia, a Mk2 Fabia, a Face Lift Mk2 Fabia and now a All New 3rd Generation Fabia, so about time it was right, 

the refresh (facelift) should have that done hopefully, all the IT / connectivity etc working easily. 'Simply Clever'.

Well done Skoda CZ.

Edited 6 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Hi Estate Man, nice to see you are still loving your new Fabia. I really do miss my Mk11 and am sorely tempted to get another Fabia DSG...I'm still pondering and working on the wife. Hell these ladies can be stubborn and far too 'sensible' at times.

I came from the Fabia MK1 estate 1.9 TDI Elegance to the Fabia MK3 1.2 petrol SEL 2015. I had some teething problems with the engine prone to stall and front screen  misting up quite frequently though keeping the glass clean and a bag of  moisture absorbing crystals on the dash it's only an occasional problem. The door handle is too far forward if opening in windy weather. I have lost the one touch window  button and the extra power point in the boot.

But it has a lot more safety features. I have put the initial stalling down to just getting used to a new car the cruise control! Is great as is the radio/sound system. The car has just had its second service no problems found. Just paid the road tax £20 and getting 35 to 40 mpg round the town so pretty happy with the car Joe

 

 

 

 

Interesting comment there about the position of the inside door handle, I don't know what has driven every car manufacturer to move them so far forward - I normally find myself grabbing the sloping front section of door to avoid any problems in high wind conditions, which do happen quite often in Northern Britain I must agree!

18 hours ago, horkin said:

Hi Estate Man, nice to see you are still loving your new Fabia. I really do miss my Mk11 and am sorely tempted to get another Fabia DSG...I'm still pondering and working on the wife. Hell these ladies can be stubborn and far too 'sensible' at times.

 

Hello Horkin, nice to hear from you. Yes, I'm loving the Mk3, it's great and probably one of the best cars I've had. And like you, I've had some crackers over the years including Mercedes. But I have had an issue with the car to deal with which, as you may have seen in one of my other threads, has resulted in me being supplied another brand new car by Skoda as a replacement for my faulty one. But no problems with the one I have now and Skoda were brilliant in dealing with my complaint. I'd urge you to keep working on your lady. It's worth it. I've just bought a new motorcycle too, my wife didn't want me to get yet another one but I eventually won! Was it worth it? Yes it was! Wife's still happy too...that's important of course. Don't worry too much about being sensible...I didn't get where I am today by being sensible!!! lol.

Hello EM I'll keep working on her  I sold my Skoda to get a lovely old Rover 75, Cracking 2.5 V6. Had a couple of lovely 500 mile trips to Scotland and it was such a dream on the Motorway. Unfortunately her in doors found it far too low to sit in, though I suspected the running costs did get to her a bit so I thought great, a chance to get another Fabia. Trouble is we have a Mazda Dealer just around the corner and she saw a great looking little Mazda 2 so we ended up buying that. It's a superb drive, a bit go cart esk!! but even though it's the top of the range Takuya it doesn't have the bells and whistles of the Skoda Elegance i'e no cruise or Parking aids so a bit boring. Anyway, I'll give it a few months then it's Fabia again I hope!! Keep smiling.

 

Harry

 

The Mazdas are very good too. My bro in law just bought a '3' hatch. 2 litre non turbo engine and it goes ok. But rather expensive to buy and he moans about the lack of a turbo even though it goes ok. He now realises he wants more performance. I suggested a Skoda Fabia Mk3 (which actually goes better than his 2 litre Mazda) and he says they are great cars but he could never drive a car with the Skoda badge on it!! He also wants it to be an auto so the DSG box would be just right for him. Shame he is so short sighted. Hope you get another Fabia eventually. You and your wife will love it. Keep in touch Harry.

Edited 8 April, 20179 yr by Estate Man

I really like the look of the mk3 in Monte Carlo guise but at the moment I certainly won't be trading in my mk2 unless Skoda pull their finger out and produce one with some actual power.